“What do we get?” asked Peter rather bluntly, while listing what he left behind to follow Christ. Where we half expect a paternal reprimand, the profuse generosity of our Lord’s reply shocks us: “A hundredfold!” (Mt 19:29).

On that fresh spring day, I was anxious to get out of my white suit and clip-on tie. But with the house abuzz with family and friends, the day’s importance was beginning to dawn on me.